Elly De La Cruz hit a towering three-run homer, tripled and drove in a career-high six runs to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 9-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., on Wednesday in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
The game was overshadowed by the early departure of Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. The right-hander left in the second inning after just 26 pitches due to arm fatigue.
Ohtani struck out a pair of Reds in a perfect top of the first, then gave the Angels a lead in the bottom half of the inning.
After Luis Rengifo worked a leadoff walk against Cincinnati starter Andrew Abbott, Ohtani belted the first pitch he saw for his major-league-leading 44th home run of the season. The 442-foot rocket to the seats in right center was clocked at 115.7 mph off the bat and put the Angels up 2-0.
With one out and one on in the second, Ohtani threw five pitches to Christian Encarnacion-Strand, including a 94-mph fastball that was fouled off.
Following that pitch, Ohtani briefly shook his right arm and then shook his head, prompting a visit from manager Phil Nevin and the team trainer. Moments later, Ohtani was escorted off the mound. Lefty Tyler Anderson (5-5) took over in relief and suffered the loss.
As was the case Tuesday night, the Reds capitalized on another error from the Angels’ infield in the fifth to put together a three-run rally for the second straight game.
With two outs and a runner on first, McLain hit a routine grounder to short and Andrew Velazquez threw it away. De La Cruz then launched an Anderson fastball over the wall in center for his 11th homer and a 4-3 Cincinnati lead.
Abbott could not get through the fifth as he allowed a single to Rengifo and walked Nolan Schanuel before being pulled for reliever Buck Farmer (4-5). The right-hander earned the win by working out of the two-on, none-out jam and recording two more outs in the sixth.
De La Cruz added a three-run triple and scored on a single by Spencer Steer in a four-run seventh to make it 8-3.
–Field Level Media
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve and Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman Mookie Betts led the field of Silver Slugger honorees by picking up the award for the seventh time in…
The Los Angeles Angels signed catcher Travis d’Arnaud to a two-year, $12 million contract on Tuesday. The Braves’ former No. 1 catcher hit free agency this offseason after Atlanta declined…
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco will face charges of illegal use and possession of a firearm following an altercation Sunday in the Dominican Republic, according to ESPN on Tuesday….
Angels sign C Travis d’Arnaud to 2-year, $12M deal
Rays SS Wander Franco facing weapons charges for D.R. altercation
Report: Free agent Juan Soto to meet first 4 suitors
Rays’ storm-damaged stadium won’t be ready until ’26
Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM
